Part 3
Legolas and his entourage turned from the peaceful forest of Mirkwood and started on the road to Rivendell. It was only half a day's ride, and it gave Legolas time to think on the recent events. The Uruk-hai, originally created by Saruman the White, the top wizard of the Order, had been vicious, strong creatures with the intent to kill and the resistance to many weapons forged by the Elves. Legolas had had to poison his arrows with the water of the Lorien river to stop many of them. Now, if these Uruk-hai that Elladriel mentioned were resistant to even that, they certainly had a problem. Legolas had been there to see the destruction of the Dark Lord Sauron, but he remembered that Saruman had supposedly killed himself after the war. However, there was no real proof, and Legolas was beginning to suspect that perhaps Saruman, with his dreams of being powerful, had climbed into the void left by Sauron. He clucked to his horse and rode on.
The Mirkwood company reached Rivendell as the sun was going down over the mountains. Elrond stood at the highest tower in Rivendell and watched as Legolas swung off his horse and handed the reins to his squire. Elrond's face was troubled and he turned from the window to meet the prince at the entrance to his house.
"Legolas, my old friend! I've been waiting for you." Elrond smiled and formally embraced Legolas. Legolas smiled at him.
"The old place hasn't changed much since the days of the Fellowship . . . lucky it was spared in the Great War. I still remember volunteering for the task . . . what a life-changing experience it was." Legolas sighed and looked nostalgic. "I miss Gimli often. He chose to go to the Glittering Caves and not accompany me across the Sea on my adventures . . . I still regret that."
Elrond smiled sympathetically. "Well, perhaps you won't be troubled for long. Come in and take some mulled wine. You must be tired from riding so long."
"No, you forget Mirkwood is half a day from here. I am quite fit and ready to meet my old friends." Legolas turned away from Elrond. "Where might I find the Princess Arwen?"
"Where she always is, I expect - at the lake. Aragorn is probably with her. I will see you in an hour, Master Legolas. I wish very much to speak with you." Elrond's smile faded as he watched the last of the sun's rays fade into the velvet sky.
Legolas walked down the path to Lake Elrond and watched the stars stud the dark-blue sky. At home in Mirkwood, dinner would be served and then the Elves would join in happy song until the moon reached its zenith, then the archers would go on watch and silence would fall over the kingdom. Sometimes Legolas joined in the singing and telling of legends from long ago; the younger Elves always clamoured for the legend of the One Ring. However, more often he and Elladriel would retire to spend some time with Ashira before she was put to bed, and more often than that Elladriel would prefer to spend time with the other elvish-women and Legolas would put Ashira to bed himself. He loved to take her with him to the top of the halls and sit up at the lookout, rocking her gently and singing to her under the stars. Ashira and her father had a special connection; when she was most upset no one could comfort her except Legolas; and when Legolas was troubled, he only had to see her face before everything was all right again. He sighed.
Legolas came upon Lake Elrond, sparkling under the full moon above. All was peaceful and very quiet. He sat down on one of the benches placed by the side of the lake and breathed the fresh mountain air. Rivendell was such a refuge . . . it was so fortunate that it had been spared in the Great War. Legolas half-closed his eyes and then jumped and gasped at a poke in the side of his ribs. He turned quickly to see a shape dart quietly behind him and the peal of clear elven-laughter. He smiled.
"Where is Aragorn? He would keep you in check."
A tall, very slim and beautiful woman with hair like midnight stepped out of the brush in front of him and made a face. She wore a long white cloak and her hair, long and silky, fell over her shoulders. Her dark eyes sparkled mischieviously as she walked towards him.
"Legolas . . . I need no keeper." Arwen pouted at him and then ran up and impulsively embraced him. Legolas embraced her back and they both laughed, the sound echoing over the still water. Legolas held her at arms length and looked at her - she hadn't changed a day since the days of the Fellowship, before the divide of the Middle-Earth lands. Legolas and Arwen were both the same age, but they were as different as night and day. While Legolas was already married, settled and ever-watchful and protective of his lands, Arwen was impulsive and free-spirited, and preferred to act like a girl more than the princess she was. Yet she took responsibility for the defense of Rivendell very seriously, and was the best at swordfighting and archery in Rivendell. She had calmed down much in recent years as Aragorn became King Elessar and Elrond was forcing her to choose between Aragorn or an Elf- aristocrat of his liking. Aragorn had been raised by the Elves and was quite acceptable in Elrond's eyes for a match for his daughter, but Arwen preferred her maiden-status and had announced to Elrond a few years ago that she would never marry. It didn't much matter, of course, because the elven-twins Elladan and Elrohir would rule effectively once Elrond had gone to the Grey Havens, and both were married, but Elrond had just as strong of a spirit as his daughter and they clashed constantly over the issue. It made Legolas glad that Ashira was still a baby and he didn't have to worry about her marriage yet.
"Where is Aragorn?" asked Legolas as he and Arwen picked their way lightly around Lake Elrond on the way back to the palace. Arwen shrugged her shoulders and said, "Oh, he's around here somewhere. Went to talk to Father, then to check the defenses at the Gate of Rivendell. I've been alerted to the problem." She looked troubled. "Why should there be Uruk-hai now? We killed nearly all of them in the Great War, and those that weren't dead when the war ended were so badly wounded that they would have died soon anyway. Who is behind this, Legolas?"
Legolas sighed. "I don't know, Arwen, I've only been told as much as you have. Elrond wishes to speak to me when we get back to the palace. I don't mind telling you that this worries me a great deal. Mirkwood does not have the defenses to protect ourselves against a new threat so soon after the Great War, and you know I have a very special priority now."
"Yes, your little daughter! How is Ashira?"
"As fair as the stars above, and as happy as a warm summer day. When is your turn, cousin?" Legolas chuckled.
"Never! I wish to live the rest of my days as a free maiden, able to protect my city and not be tied down by the chains of motherhood!"
"Does Aragorn know this?"
"Yes, he knows. However, he and Father are conspiring against me. I'm sure that they wish for me to marry as soon as possible."
"Well, you're not exactly getting any younger."
Arwen swatted him. "That's rich coming from you, oh three-thousand-year-old elf prince of Mirkwood!"
"We're the same age!" Legolas pretended to run after her and the two, accompanied by their sweet elven-laughter, ran the rest of the way up to the House of Elrond and into the warmth within.
Legolas and Arwen were met at the door by an irritated Elrond and his twin sons, Elladan and Elrohir. Elrohir smiled at Legolas and formally embraced him, while Elladan grinned at him from behind his overblown brother. "I have missed you, friend. While we have been guarding the borders of Lorien, it appears that you have been relaxing in Mirkwood, bearing new heirs for our fair region!" Elladan put a hand on Legolas' shoulder and led him into the Great Hall of Elrond, where all of the Elves of the Court sat at the long tables, waiting for the main meal of the day to be served.
Elladan and Elrohir were mirror-images of each other, each a hundred years older than Legolas. They both had the dark hair of Elrond, with traces of silver beginning to weave through the shining ebony. Their dark eyes sparkled and their pale skin lit from the inside, making them radiant and easily the most beautiful Elves in Rivendell, surpassing their sister Arwen by only a little. However, while Elrohir was formal and elegant, trying his best to copy the manner of his father, Elladan was playful, like his sister Arwen and always managing to make the actions of his brother look overblown and silly. Both, however, were strong fighting men and had the easier manners of a younger generation. As children, they had been Legolas' best friends and had learned the arts of education alongside the prince of Mirkwood.
"Well, I wouldn't say exactly relaxing . . . Ashira is an energetic elven- child! I must keep her in check around such aristocratic Elves as yourselves and remind her to live up to her name as princess!" Legolas smiled. Elrohir looked pleased, but Elladan went into a long spasm of laughter and punched Legolas on the shoulder. "I doubt that a babe could act like an aristocrat, especially in your lax kingdom!"
The banter went on as the four Elves sat at the right hand of Elrond and bowed their heads for the meal-song. After this, the meal was served and Elrond turned to Legolas with a smile. "I miss having a babe around the palace. The last was Arwen." He smiled at his daughter, who smiled back. "Such a babe she was! Always putting the palace in an uproar with her antics . . . not even the twin-princes could beat her at her chaotic temper! But it appears that perhaps we will have some more children to keep us young again - Elladan's wife Firgoniel is with child, and we may be carrying on the tradition of twin heirs again."
"That's wonderful," said Legolas. "Congratulations, friend. A child is quite a joy and certainly keeps me young and fit." He finished his meal and got up. "Elrond, where shall I meet you?"
A shadow passed over Elrond's merry face again. "Wait for me at the watchtowers. We have much to discuss."
"Yes, lord." Legolas left the Great Hall and walked quietly over the marble floors of the palace up to the watchtowers at the top. He wondered what Elrond's take on the situation was. He hoped that the wise Elf would have advice for him - to protect Mirkwood, but more importantly, to protect his family.
~TO BE CONTINUED~
Legolas and his entourage turned from the peaceful forest of Mirkwood and started on the road to Rivendell. It was only half a day's ride, and it gave Legolas time to think on the recent events. The Uruk-hai, originally created by Saruman the White, the top wizard of the Order, had been vicious, strong creatures with the intent to kill and the resistance to many weapons forged by the Elves. Legolas had had to poison his arrows with the water of the Lorien river to stop many of them. Now, if these Uruk-hai that Elladriel mentioned were resistant to even that, they certainly had a problem. Legolas had been there to see the destruction of the Dark Lord Sauron, but he remembered that Saruman had supposedly killed himself after the war. However, there was no real proof, and Legolas was beginning to suspect that perhaps Saruman, with his dreams of being powerful, had climbed into the void left by Sauron. He clucked to his horse and rode on.
The Mirkwood company reached Rivendell as the sun was going down over the mountains. Elrond stood at the highest tower in Rivendell and watched as Legolas swung off his horse and handed the reins to his squire. Elrond's face was troubled and he turned from the window to meet the prince at the entrance to his house.
"Legolas, my old friend! I've been waiting for you." Elrond smiled and formally embraced Legolas. Legolas smiled at him.
"The old place hasn't changed much since the days of the Fellowship . . . lucky it was spared in the Great War. I still remember volunteering for the task . . . what a life-changing experience it was." Legolas sighed and looked nostalgic. "I miss Gimli often. He chose to go to the Glittering Caves and not accompany me across the Sea on my adventures . . . I still regret that."
Elrond smiled sympathetically. "Well, perhaps you won't be troubled for long. Come in and take some mulled wine. You must be tired from riding so long."
"No, you forget Mirkwood is half a day from here. I am quite fit and ready to meet my old friends." Legolas turned away from Elrond. "Where might I find the Princess Arwen?"
"Where she always is, I expect - at the lake. Aragorn is probably with her. I will see you in an hour, Master Legolas. I wish very much to speak with you." Elrond's smile faded as he watched the last of the sun's rays fade into the velvet sky.
Legolas walked down the path to Lake Elrond and watched the stars stud the dark-blue sky. At home in Mirkwood, dinner would be served and then the Elves would join in happy song until the moon reached its zenith, then the archers would go on watch and silence would fall over the kingdom. Sometimes Legolas joined in the singing and telling of legends from long ago; the younger Elves always clamoured for the legend of the One Ring. However, more often he and Elladriel would retire to spend some time with Ashira before she was put to bed, and more often than that Elladriel would prefer to spend time with the other elvish-women and Legolas would put Ashira to bed himself. He loved to take her with him to the top of the halls and sit up at the lookout, rocking her gently and singing to her under the stars. Ashira and her father had a special connection; when she was most upset no one could comfort her except Legolas; and when Legolas was troubled, he only had to see her face before everything was all right again. He sighed.
Legolas came upon Lake Elrond, sparkling under the full moon above. All was peaceful and very quiet. He sat down on one of the benches placed by the side of the lake and breathed the fresh mountain air. Rivendell was such a refuge . . . it was so fortunate that it had been spared in the Great War. Legolas half-closed his eyes and then jumped and gasped at a poke in the side of his ribs. He turned quickly to see a shape dart quietly behind him and the peal of clear elven-laughter. He smiled.
"Where is Aragorn? He would keep you in check."
A tall, very slim and beautiful woman with hair like midnight stepped out of the brush in front of him and made a face. She wore a long white cloak and her hair, long and silky, fell over her shoulders. Her dark eyes sparkled mischieviously as she walked towards him.
"Legolas . . . I need no keeper." Arwen pouted at him and then ran up and impulsively embraced him. Legolas embraced her back and they both laughed, the sound echoing over the still water. Legolas held her at arms length and looked at her - she hadn't changed a day since the days of the Fellowship, before the divide of the Middle-Earth lands. Legolas and Arwen were both the same age, but they were as different as night and day. While Legolas was already married, settled and ever-watchful and protective of his lands, Arwen was impulsive and free-spirited, and preferred to act like a girl more than the princess she was. Yet she took responsibility for the defense of Rivendell very seriously, and was the best at swordfighting and archery in Rivendell. She had calmed down much in recent years as Aragorn became King Elessar and Elrond was forcing her to choose between Aragorn or an Elf- aristocrat of his liking. Aragorn had been raised by the Elves and was quite acceptable in Elrond's eyes for a match for his daughter, but Arwen preferred her maiden-status and had announced to Elrond a few years ago that she would never marry. It didn't much matter, of course, because the elven-twins Elladan and Elrohir would rule effectively once Elrond had gone to the Grey Havens, and both were married, but Elrond had just as strong of a spirit as his daughter and they clashed constantly over the issue. It made Legolas glad that Ashira was still a baby and he didn't have to worry about her marriage yet.
"Where is Aragorn?" asked Legolas as he and Arwen picked their way lightly around Lake Elrond on the way back to the palace. Arwen shrugged her shoulders and said, "Oh, he's around here somewhere. Went to talk to Father, then to check the defenses at the Gate of Rivendell. I've been alerted to the problem." She looked troubled. "Why should there be Uruk-hai now? We killed nearly all of them in the Great War, and those that weren't dead when the war ended were so badly wounded that they would have died soon anyway. Who is behind this, Legolas?"
Legolas sighed. "I don't know, Arwen, I've only been told as much as you have. Elrond wishes to speak to me when we get back to the palace. I don't mind telling you that this worries me a great deal. Mirkwood does not have the defenses to protect ourselves against a new threat so soon after the Great War, and you know I have a very special priority now."
"Yes, your little daughter! How is Ashira?"
"As fair as the stars above, and as happy as a warm summer day. When is your turn, cousin?" Legolas chuckled.
"Never! I wish to live the rest of my days as a free maiden, able to protect my city and not be tied down by the chains of motherhood!"
"Does Aragorn know this?"
"Yes, he knows. However, he and Father are conspiring against me. I'm sure that they wish for me to marry as soon as possible."
"Well, you're not exactly getting any younger."
Arwen swatted him. "That's rich coming from you, oh three-thousand-year-old elf prince of Mirkwood!"
"We're the same age!" Legolas pretended to run after her and the two, accompanied by their sweet elven-laughter, ran the rest of the way up to the House of Elrond and into the warmth within.
Legolas and Arwen were met at the door by an irritated Elrond and his twin sons, Elladan and Elrohir. Elrohir smiled at Legolas and formally embraced him, while Elladan grinned at him from behind his overblown brother. "I have missed you, friend. While we have been guarding the borders of Lorien, it appears that you have been relaxing in Mirkwood, bearing new heirs for our fair region!" Elladan put a hand on Legolas' shoulder and led him into the Great Hall of Elrond, where all of the Elves of the Court sat at the long tables, waiting for the main meal of the day to be served.
Elladan and Elrohir were mirror-images of each other, each a hundred years older than Legolas. They both had the dark hair of Elrond, with traces of silver beginning to weave through the shining ebony. Their dark eyes sparkled and their pale skin lit from the inside, making them radiant and easily the most beautiful Elves in Rivendell, surpassing their sister Arwen by only a little. However, while Elrohir was formal and elegant, trying his best to copy the manner of his father, Elladan was playful, like his sister Arwen and always managing to make the actions of his brother look overblown and silly. Both, however, were strong fighting men and had the easier manners of a younger generation. As children, they had been Legolas' best friends and had learned the arts of education alongside the prince of Mirkwood.
"Well, I wouldn't say exactly relaxing . . . Ashira is an energetic elven- child! I must keep her in check around such aristocratic Elves as yourselves and remind her to live up to her name as princess!" Legolas smiled. Elrohir looked pleased, but Elladan went into a long spasm of laughter and punched Legolas on the shoulder. "I doubt that a babe could act like an aristocrat, especially in your lax kingdom!"
The banter went on as the four Elves sat at the right hand of Elrond and bowed their heads for the meal-song. After this, the meal was served and Elrond turned to Legolas with a smile. "I miss having a babe around the palace. The last was Arwen." He smiled at his daughter, who smiled back. "Such a babe she was! Always putting the palace in an uproar with her antics . . . not even the twin-princes could beat her at her chaotic temper! But it appears that perhaps we will have some more children to keep us young again - Elladan's wife Firgoniel is with child, and we may be carrying on the tradition of twin heirs again."
"That's wonderful," said Legolas. "Congratulations, friend. A child is quite a joy and certainly keeps me young and fit." He finished his meal and got up. "Elrond, where shall I meet you?"
A shadow passed over Elrond's merry face again. "Wait for me at the watchtowers. We have much to discuss."
"Yes, lord." Legolas left the Great Hall and walked quietly over the marble floors of the palace up to the watchtowers at the top. He wondered what Elrond's take on the situation was. He hoped that the wise Elf would have advice for him - to protect Mirkwood, but more importantly, to protect his family.
~TO BE CONTINUED~